Mother Confesses to Murdering Four Children, Shocking Greece

Irene Mourtzoukou, a 25-year-old mother from Greece, has confessed to the murders of four infants, including her own children. Her admission follows months of public denials and emotional appeals to the media, during which she maintained her innocence. Mourtzoukou is now in custody at Korydallos Prison in Athens, facing charges of serial intentional homicide and attempted suffocation.

The dramatic turn in this case occurred in July 2023, when authorities formally charged Mourtzoukou in connection with the deaths of several infants in western Greece. Initially, the deaths were attributed to natural causes, but further investigations revealed troubling evidence. For example, her first victim, her 18-month-old sister, died in 2014 from what was then labeled “respiratory complications.” Mourtzoukou later confessed to killing the child after an argument with her mother.

Mourtzoukou’s confessions extend to the deaths of her own daughters, aged 19 days and under two months, between 2022 and 2023. The young mother also admitted to the death of her six-month-old godson while babysitting in 2021. Although initial autopsies ruled the causes of death as natural, later forensic examinations suggested asphyxiation, raising serious questions about the circumstances surrounding each child’s death.

Public Outcry and Media Scrutiny

The shocking nature of Mourtzoukou’s confessions has ignited a public outcry in Greece, leading to widespread media coverage and debate regarding the failures of the country’s child protection system. Katerina, the mother of one of the deceased children, publicly expressed her outrage, labeling Mourtzoukou a “murderer with no presumption of innocence.”

Mourtzoukou’s troubling history includes an alleged attempt to suffocate her ex-partner in 2021. The incident was reported after the woman managed to escape, raising further concerns about Mourtzoukou’s behavior. Her appearances on Greek talk shows, where she denied any wrongdoing, have since become infamous. She engaged in heated exchanges with journalists and forensic experts, insisting on her innocence despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

The investigation into her actions intensified after the death of her ex-girlfriend’s son in August 2022, which prompted authorities to re-examine previous cases. A coroner indicated that this child’s death might have been criminal, leading to deeper scrutiny of Mourtzoukou’s past.

Legal Ramifications and Psychological Insights

In light of her confessions, Mourtzoukou has requested to be placed in a psychiatric facility rather than remain in prison. Her lawyer, Nikos Alexandris, suggested that she is “not the only one responsible” for the tragic events, highlighting concerns about the adequacy of the investigations and the forensic reports.

The case of Mourtzoukou bears similarities to that of Roula Pispirigou, another mother in Greece sentenced to life in prison for the murders of her three daughters earlier in 2023. Both women were previously prominent figures in the media, publicly maintaining their innocence while facing serious allegations.

As the case unfolds, mental health professionals have speculated about the potential for Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in those they care for to gain attention or sympathy. This theory has added another layer of complexity to the already harrowing narrative surrounding Mourtzoukou and her actions.

The disturbing revelations have sparked a national conversation about child protection in Greece, particularly regarding how social services and psychiatric care respond to families in crisis. As the investigation continues, the public remains captivated and horrified by the details of this unprecedented case in modern Greek criminal history.